Melville Park Minutes April 9, 2008 Meeting Called to Order at 7:00 by E.Rizy, Chairperson ************ The following members were present: P. Higgins, Co-Chair; T. Gray, K. Ptak, P. Botelho, L. Bryant, J. Richard & E. Rizy. Excused Absence: A. Conti, G. Kinnunen, G. Williams K.Gleason, Town Council Liaison, was also present Guest: Bill Bryant Minutes: March. J. Richard made motion to approve, second K. Ptak; approved unanimously. Finance: A. Conti and G. Kinnunen were not available. Report deferred. Correspondence: Committee invited to have a table at Town Pond April 19 for Earth Day, 10-noon. Members will have maps and brochures to distribute. Letter of 3/28 from R. Driscoll reporting that the Town Council has accepted the revised bylaws. Old Business Bylaws: J. Richard raised the question of three-year terms for members. Currently it was determined that five members have reached the three-year term: L. Bryant, P. Higgins, E. Rizy, G. Kinnunen and A. Conti. These members may apply to the Town Council for continuation. K. Gleason will obtain the requisite forms for renewal. Pond Reclamation: P. Higgins, T. Gray and E. Rizy met with DEM personnel: R. Gagnon, Chief/Office of Technical & Consumer Assistance, and P. Guglielmino, Dam Safety Program. The dam issue, identified by DEM as a potential hazard, was identified as the western wall of Pond 1, overlooking the Melville boatworks. Large tree roots could penetrate the dam over time and weaken it to the point of rupture. Mr. Guglielmino advised clearing the dam top and sides of large trees to eliminate the potential hazard. The west side should be cleared out to 15’ from the base to permit inspection. Mr. Gagnon specified the permits that must be obtained to proceed with reclamation efforts. The permits must be preceded by a biological examination of the area and a surveyor’s marking of the edge of wetlands in question. A Request for Qualification document was received from Northeast Engineering. Numerous questions were raised about the content. A clear statement of project intent is needed to orient the reader. P. Higgins will set up a meeting with D. Faucher, Town Finance Administrator, to discuss the format and content of the final document; T. Gray and K. Ptak will attend also. Dave Gregg, a naturalist consultant, has agreed to a pond walkaround Monday 21 April at 9:30 with T. Gray. Other members are invited. Youth Programs: J. Richard presented the idea of geocaches in Melville as a way of stirring greater interest in the Park. He will identify a website for notifying cachers and seeker. Mott Farm Road: The renting of an excavator, approved at the 5 March special meeting, was used by P. Botelho to clear the drainage ditch. The areas was extremely muddly because of the recurring rainy weather. P. Botelho wanted to know why the authorization for pipe and gravel had not proceeded; E. Rizy had the impression that the ditch was to be cleared first and then the amount of pipe and gravel could be determined. P. Botelho and L. Bryant insisted that the committee had voted to procure these materials and that they should be purchased. E. Rizy conferred with Pond View about obtaining three loads of crushed concrete from the Melville housing area to cover the perennially wet part of Mott Farm Road, as P. Botelho had recommended. A price of $75 a load was discussed. Pond View has not contacted the committee about delivery. Trail Work: G. Williams, P. Higgins and E. Rizy took part in a Cleanup Day March 29th to prepare the trails and fishing areas prior to opening day of fishing season. An apple tree interfering with casting was removed at Pond 1 and the trail along Tank Farm 1 fence was cleared and widened to permit better access to Pond 9. April Cleanup: The committee set Saturday, April 26th, as Park Cleanup Day. All members are encouraged to attend and bring friends. K. Ptak will produce posters and news releases. E. Rizy will notify Scout troops. The event will start at 9 a.m. Coffee, cocoa and marshmallows will be provided. New Business “Friends of Melville” organization, modeled on the Glenn and Brown House “Friends” was presented by J. Richard. This would be a tax-exempt 501C3 organization, with dues-paying members, that would pursue projects and grants independent of public financing. A draft set of bylaws, based on the Brown House and Glen Farm committee documents, will be distributed to members. Tool Use, Maintenance and Storage: J. Richard, T. Gray and E. Rizy examined Building 104 for storage suitability. Remoteness from supervision and difficulty of protection made this not a good option at this time. P. Higgins discussed replacing the campground tool shed situated in the campground with a larger 12’ x 12’ building to be shared by Park and Campground personnel. A partition would divide the shed into two areas. T. Gray requested drawings before materials are procured. P. Higgins concurred. Cost of materials was estimated at $2,000. The issue of brush hog was raised by visitor B. Bryant who asserted that his familiarity with the park grounds indicated that such as device was needed to maintain some trails, clearings and Mott Farm Road. The purchase was authorized at the special March 5 meeting, although E. Rizy later conferred with DPW head D. Kehew who believed it would not handle heavy work. E. Rizy so notified committee members by e-mail. B. Bryant said that, for the purposes intended, a brush hog was adequate and necessary. The campground would share the cost of the brush hog. B. Bryant and E. Rizy would get three quotes from John Deere suppliers and proceed with the purchase, about $2200. Elections will be held off until January 2009, with current officers remaining in place until then (if reappointed to membership by the Town Council). Motion to Adjourn: J. Richard. 2nd, P. Higgins, 8:55; unanimous Next Meeting: May 14 at Town Hall Respectfully Submitted, Edward Rizy Acting Secretary

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